In a new study
published in the journal Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that since 1993, ocean
waters have moved up the shore by almost 1 millimeter per decade. That’s on top
of the 3 millimeter steady annual increase. This acceleration means we’ll gain
an additional millimeter per year for each of the coming decades, potentially
doubling what would happen to the sea level by 2100 if the rate of increase was
constant.

“The acceleration
predicted by the models has now been detected directly from the observations. I
think this is a game-changer as far as the climate change discussion goes,” said
co-author Gary
Mitchum, PhD, associate dean and professor at the University of South Florida College of Marine
Science. “For example, the Tampa Bay area has been identified as one of 10
most vulnerable areas in the world to sea level rise and the increasing rate of
rise is of great concern.”

Dr. Mitchum is part
of a team led by University of Colorado Boulder Professor Steve Nerem, PhD,
that used statistical analysis to enhance previous studies based on tide gauge
data, which have also suggested acceleration over the last century. However,
satellites give a better view of sea level rise, because samples are collected
over the open ocean, rather than just along the coastline.

Experts have long
said warming temperatures are heating ocean waters and melting ice sheets in
Greenland and Antarctica. As it continues, the next generation will experience
a far different landscape than it does today.